Ben Wilson
Ben is the editor for everything in our tech channel at Windows Central, including desktop PCs, the components inside, and practically any accessory. Since most of this hardware tends to be compatible with Xbox, he also keeps an Xbox Series S close by for testing headsets, external storage, and anything with enough versatility to cover all the bases. A lifelong gamer since his first console, the SEGA Mega Drive, he has an affinity for taking things to pieces to see how they work.
Pursuing a recent career in technology journalism follows over a decade of experience in electronics retail and tech support roles, offering repairs and recommendations to consumers. A personal hobby in custom PC building built a strong desire to follow the latest cutting-edge hardware in a never-ending search to find the parts genuinely worth buying. Always on the hunt for the best value for money, he's fueled by a steady diet of caffeinated drinks and coffee-flavored food.
Forever a Windows XP fan, he's keeping up with the latest releases from Microsoft but dabbles in Linux to experiment with the inner workings of Valve's Steam Deck handheld. He'll look out for your best interests if you're considering tinkering with hardware upgrades and want the best bang for your buck. Find him on BlueSky @benwilson.net to ask questions or share opinions.
Latest articles by Ben Wilson
Edge might be sending every URL you visit to Bing's API by mistake: Microsoft responds
By Ben Wilson published
Bad Bing A simple switch in Edge's settings can disable this seemingly malfunctioned feature of sending too much info to Bing.
Simplify Windows optimization with Wintoys: Streamlined bloatware removal and quick system tweaks
By Ben Wilson published
Tune-up 🤖 Wintoys is a collection of straightforward and powerful tweaks designed to supercharge your Windows machine free of charge.
AMD Ryzen 7000X3D-series CPUs burning up and destroying motherboards from ASUS, Gigabyte
By Ben Wilson published
Too hot Unconfirmed causes are seeing Ryzen 7800X3D-series processors bulging and bursting, causing irreparable damage to their motherboards, too.
Unrecord: The game that looked too real to be true — until now
By Ben Wilson published
Reality check An upcoming first-person shooter is gaining controversial traction for looking too realistic to be real, but the devs just proved the skeptics wrong with video proof.
Figure out if your chat partner is human or an AI chatbot in this Turing Test game
By Ben Wilson published
🤖 Human. Paired with a random chat partner, it's up to you to decipher whether or not they're human or a convincing robot AI chatbot.
Acer's new Predator laptops offer glasses-free 3D and killer RTX 40-series GPUs
By Ben Wilson published
Triton & Helios Acer unveils brand-new additions to its Predator range of gaming laptops during next@acer 2023, including some pretty spectacular 3D without the need for glasses.
Major unpopular changes are coming to free image host Imgur
By Ben Wilson published
Snapped🫰 Get ready to see broken image links across the Internet as unregistered accounts are purged of all their content. This all feels familiar.
Want 512GB of extra space for your Steam Deck for only $40? Better be quick!
By Ben Wilson published
Storage gains Samsung offers a significant discount on the best SD card for Steam Deck, but only for a limited time. Potentially double your storage space for a measly $40!
No subtitles? No problem. Windows Live Captions could make gaming accessible to all
By Ben Wilson published
Subs for all Did you know you can activate live subtitles for any game on Windows 11? Live Captions make it possible.
RØDE unveils game-changing audio hardware for streamers at NAB 2023
By Ben Wilson published
Streamers rejoice RØDE is joining the National Association of Broadcasters in Las Vegas to unveil some fantastic audio hardware designed for streamers and content creators.
Steam Deck shader cache files to shrink by 60% with a driver update
By Ben Wilson published
Deck space Valve is working on an upcoming solution to bloated shader cache files taking up too much space on your Steam Deck.
AMD’s new Radeon PRO W7000 GPUs promise exceptional performance and value for pro creators
By Ben Wilson published
RDNA 3 🔥 AMD's all-new Radeon PRO W7000 workstation GPUs pack powerful specs and cutting-edge tech for creative professionals.
Save $300 on Microsoft's Surface Pro 9: A beloved revision of the perfect 2-in-1
By Ben Wilson published
Pro savings Microsoft's iconic 2-in-1 has been refined to perfection, and now you can grab it in various configurations with a massive $300 saving.
Extra Xbox Elite Series 2 colors join Design Lab for expanded controller customization
By Ben Wilson published
Elite customs The Xbox Elite Series 2 is now available with extra color options in Design Lab, including ready-made templates inspired by popular Xbox games.
How to use PowerToys FancyZones on Windows 10
By Ben Wilson published
Fancy! Windows 10 doesn't have the same flexibility for snapping apps as Windows 11, but FancyZones solves the issue and offers extra customization.
No VR? No worries. Half-Life: Alyx is now playable with a mouse and keyboard
By Ben Wilson published
Look, no hands Experience Half-Life: Alyx from beginning to end without needing a VR headset with this free community-made modification.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D review: A gaming powerhouse CPU with one weakness
By Ben Wilson published
Review AMD aims to dominate the desktop PC scene with the most powerful gaming CPU ever made, but is it worth the price when it lacks in another category?
Microsoft’s 48th birthday bash: A week of 80s nostalgia
By Ben Wilson published
Happy Birthday 🎉 Celebrating its 48th birthday, Microsoft announces a week-long party on social media, themed around the 1980s.
Naughty Dog neglects Steam Deck users as it struggles to fix The Last of Us PC disaster
By Ben Wilson published
Last for Deck The Last of Us Part I is now listed as unsupported for Steam Deck following a slew of disastrous bugs on desktop gaming PCs.
RODE introduces Wireless ME: Ultra-compact 2.4GHz mics compatible with Windows and mobile
By Ben Wilson published
RØDE 🎤 RØDE's Wireless ME system supports 2.4GHz transmissions up to 100m with intelligent GainAssist tech and broadcast-grade microphones.
Lenovo launches Legion Pro 7i, the first of its 2023 Legion laptop lineup
By Ben Wilson last updated
CES Lenovo unveiled updated Legion gaming machines at CES as the world's first 16" AI-tuned laptops with machine-learning software. The first of those PCs is now available.
How to play Minecraft on Steam Deck: Prism Launcher guide for Java v1.19
By Ben Wilson published
⛏ Deckcraft Run Minecraft Java on your Steam Deck with my straightforward step-by-step guide, using Prism Launcher to keep things simple.
NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 4050 data leak includes potential GPU launch dates
By Ben Wilson published
4050 & 4060 Ti A reliable leaker has spilled the beans on apparent launch dates for NVIDIA's entry-level 40-series GPUs, the RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 4050.